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Staff from POW said the the majority of cases it handles are girls who 'believe they have a boyfriend', even meeting the offender online, who showers them with alcohol, drugs and valuables in order to make them do unthinkable things with other men.

Dionne Mundle, 29, coordinator for the project at POW, told the Post: "The majority of my case load is women and girls aged 15 to 18.

"I am currently working with eight, but since last year it was 17 people. Some of them think they have a boyfriend but they have been groomed. It is rife here.

"Offenders will go on Facebook, send a generic message to 300 people saying ‘you are beautiful’ and 50 people get in touch because they have no confidence or self-esteem and that is how it happens.

"Offenders don’t have to physically go out and do the legwork nowadays such as going to the park or the youth centre. It can happen to anyone. It can be someone from a loving family who goes to a party and then gets caught up in it."

Danielle Scotece, chief executive of the charity, told the Post: "I think it is really good that we have been recognised for the work that we do. It is still in its infancy and an award such as this illustrates that we are doing something right and the work is needed."